Process of extracting copper from ore.



W. L..` AUSTIN. I ROOBSS 0F EXTEAOTING COPPER FROM ORE.

APPLIUATION FILED APB..15, 1907.

Patented Nov. 8, 1910.

UNITED sTATns "PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM L. AUSTIN, OF RIVERSIDE, CALIFORNIA,

PROCESSv EXTRACTING COPPER FROM ORE.

Application filed April 15,

of extracting coppeiwliich is especially applicable in. localities Where there are ininerals which can be renderedsoh-ible, such, for example, as copper minerals, distributed through more or less porous rock.

Such rock as porous porphyry (graniteporphyry) for example. inlay contain, in the aggregate, a quantityr of valuable mineral, although too small a percentage to be worked profitably by ordinary mining' operations. The mineral iii-ay, howerer, be

' profitably extracted hyv the process 'which l.

the same,

have discovered, which consists in applying a solvent sons `to percolate through the init-xeral bear-nip material without ren'ioriug it by the usual mechanical mining operations from its original location, the percolating liquid extracting the` mineral by leaching.

4a-ndiin providing for the collection and subsequent removal of the. resulting solutions, fromA which the metals may then liiefseparated in any suitable or usual manner.

In carrying out the process, au artificial drainage letel is created at a point. or points below the surface of the roc-,lt through which the copper minerals are distributed.'4 This may beI accomplished by running levels and,

cross-euts at different horizons, and by sinking shafts to asuitable depth, and in so lo eating these workings that water or. any liquid pern'iea-ti'ng the rock will. seek the lower leyels and be collected therein. '11; therefore, a .quantity of.water is distributed. over the surface of the rock, or through any of the upper levels, it will pci-'colate through leaching out the copper minerals and collecting in the lower workings. The

` resulting liquids arethen removed, as by a pump, for further treatment to extract-their metallic contents. It is desirable to' carry out the process of entracting the metals from the Asolutions. at or near the location of the ore-body, so that the liquids from -which the metals have been separated may, desirable, be again allowed to pass through the rock.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented' Nov. '18', lill,

i907. scritti No. 368,200.

lit is, however, immaterial how the water is supplied, it being frequently' practicable to divert the water fronia ruiming stream, .or

any reservoir, and to distribute it through? out the upper parts of the oreb0dy.

The drawing is a diagram,lindicating e coiniiion 'formation susceptible of being.

worked by the process embodying the invention. i

` A The usual formationl may be generally described as consisting (l) of a top stratum from which 'the copper has been gradually leached out by natural processes until it is substantially' barren; (2) V a substratum which is usually designated, as the. zone of enrichment, and which contains copper minerals in paying quantities; and (3) the K ore-body .in its original state. The dotted line a. lindicatesthe upper surface ot the zone of enrichment, and the -dotted line b indicates the top of the zone of primary ore; This dotted -line b is often the natural drainage level of the lo'cality determined by the topography.' v

`ln accordance with my process, I `create, at any desired point below the line a an artificial drainage level or collecting reservoir, toward which water throughout the mineral bearing rock will How, as tothe point of least resistance. 4I

`then supply and distribute, by means 'of levels, cross-cuts, shafts and winzes, a quan tity of water throughout the mineral bearing rock, so that such water percolates the rock and flows toward the collecting reservoir.

In practice, a sha-ft c `(or. as many shafts as may bc desirable.) is sunk to any' desired level, and a :plurality of approxi .distributed- 'nsA mately horizontal tunnels or channels d are posit to, receive and distribute the water. As the Water collects inV sufficient quantities in the shaft orshafts c it is reco'yered an the co per and other' metals in solutionV or other orm are separated by precipita-nts, or otherwise." The material to be used as a precipitant, when the minerals are r/emoved from the containing r'ock in thisway, may' bel determinedeccording to circumstances. .For eianiple, if Jthe. copper in the liquid is .driven-below the'leached portion of the de. i

in the ormof a. sulfate or chlorid, theV me.

'tullio copper will-be precipitated by adding iron which replaces the copper, producing sulfate or chlorid of iron and a precipitate of metallic copper.

'natural drainage level of the bed; providl in out the water accumulated at said artificial level and extracting the copper therefrom.

, In testimony whereof, I have signed my 15 name to this specification inthe presence-of two subscribing witnesses.

VILLIAM L. AUSTIN;

Claim.

The process of extracting copper from a bed of porous rock,I which consists in creating'an artificial drainage level below the ing the entire bed with cross cuts and winzes at diierent levels; flushing the entire bed with water, whereby the Water ercolates through the entire bed above and elow the natural drainage level and collects at the artificial drainage level; and finally 'puxnpl Witnesses:

L. E. FELLoWs, M. ELLA KINsEr. 

